Paying Off Collections to Improve Your Credit Score

September 2, 2016

You want to improve your credit score, but you have outstanding debts to a collection agency. Before you pay it all off, take a few moments to evaluate your personal situation. Different types of debts should be handled in different ways because they each affect your credit score uniquely.

The way you handle your repayment also depends on how old the debt is, so pay attention to the details to make sure you make the right decisions. Get ready to learn the nitty-gritty on paying off your collections so you can get on the path to a better credit score.

The Difference Between Collections and Delinquent Debts

Before you start creating a debt repayment strategy, it’s important to understand the differences between the types of debt. A delinquent debt is technically any debt with an outstanding payment.

But most creditors, especially credit card companies, don’t report delinquent payments to the credit bureaus until the account is at least 30 days past due. From there, the delinquency is updated in 30-day increments: 60 days, 90, days, and 120 days.

Each level has an increasingly negative effect on your credit score, and can actually lower by as much as 125 points. Even if you pay off the balance owed, that late payment remains as a derogatory item on your credit report for a full seven years.

Once your delinquent payment reaches a certain point, the creditor will most likely sell it to a collection agency to take over the management of your account. At that point, you’ll likely receive more aggressive contact from the debt collector as they attempt to recuperate the money owed.

There’s no set time frame as to when an account is sent to collections, but many credit card companies do so after a payment is 180 days late.

You’ll receive a notice that this is happening so you know exactly where your debt stands. Your credit score will also be updated to reflect the transfer of your debt to a collection agency, which will further hurt your score.

How Delinquencies and Collections Affect Your Credit Score

Unfortunately, there is no cut and dry explanation on how delinquent accounts and collections affect your credit score. Part of the reason is that there are different credit scoring models that each weigh these items differently.

The two most popular scoring models, the FICO score and VantageScore, have both older and newer versions that incorporate different calculations.

The older models from both companies actually penalize individuals more heavily for having delinquent accounts. The newer models, however, focus more on the amounts you owe, so paying off delinquent debts and those sent to collections can actually help your score.

The most recent versions, FICO 9 and VantageScore 3.0 don’t even consider collections that are paid off when calculating your credit score. They also weigh medical collections less heavily than other types of debt.

The problem, however, is that older versions of credit scoring models don’t expire and it takes time for lenders throughout the country to update to the newest versions. That means your credit score could vary greatly depending on what lender you decide to work with and what scoring model they currently use.

When to Pay Off Collections and Delinquent Accounts

A good rule of thumb to start off with when creating a payoff strategy for your debt is to tackle the most recent delinquencies first. That’s because even though delinquent accounts don’t drop off your credit report until seven years later, their effects on your score lessen over time.

By paying off the newest delinquent accounts first, you’ll remove the most damaging items on your credit report which should improve your overall credit score.

If all of your delinquencies are roughly the same age, you could consider negotiating a settlement and paying off the lowest amounts first.

Settling a debt refers to paying less than what you owe while still having the creditor mark the account as paid. In fact, paying a debt in full has the same effect on your credit score as settling your accounts, so it’s worth trying to negotiate a settlement in order to save some money.

If you do settle and pay a lower amount, the newer credit scoring models for both FICO and VantageScore count it just as favorably as if you had paid off the full amount.

Another tip is to ask the collection agency to remove the negative item from your credit report altogether as part of the settlement. Make sure to get a copy of the full agreement in writing so there are no discrepancies later on.

Paying Taxes on Forgiven Debt

Also note that unless you qualify for an exemption, you’ll probably have to report your canceled debts from a settlement as part of your income when it comes time to file taxes. That could quickly add up to a lot of money depending on how much you owe and might even bump you up into a higher tax bracket.

It’s often wise to consult with a financial advisor before making any major decision to ensure you understand the full weight of your choice. Otherwise, you might end up owing Uncle Sam much more than you’d like to — and he doesn’t let you skip out on payments!

After paying off your collections, you’ll probably be excited to see how high your credit score has risen. But be sure to remember that just how much that needle moves (and in what direction) depends on which scoring model is used to calculate your credit score.

You might notice a change of just a few points, or you might happily see it jump close to triple digits. Either way, you’ll definitely start to notice an increase over the long-term, regardless of which scoring model is used.

Handling Delinquent Accounts Older Than Seven Years

Delinquent accounts, including those sent to collections, automatically roll off your credit report after seven years, whether you’ve paid them or not. You might think you’re in the clear and don’t have to worry about those debts anymore, but that isn’t always the case.

There are a few different reasons why you might want to pay off old debts even when they’re no longer listed on your credit report. One reason is that in the event the original debt collector sells your debt to another debt collector, the account can be reopened for an additional seven years.

The new collection agency might be more aggressive with its tactics and could even threaten to sue you for the amount owed. It’s usually best to avoid a lawsuit, so if you find yourself in this situation you’d probably want to consider agreeing to a settlement with the collection agency.

However, there are a few intricacies to be aware of when deciding how to handle a delinquent debt that is beyond seven years old. Once you make a payment or perform any other activity on the account, it could be reactivated and reappear on your credit report.

Depending on the state in which you live, making a partial payment could also reset the time limit on the statute of limitations. That opens you back up to the potential of lawsuits from collectors. Consider all of the potential repercussions before you decide which accounts to pay off and when.

Dealing with Other Types of Late Payments

In addition to delinquent debts that have been sent to collections, you might simply be late on your payment of any other kind of bill, whether it be a credit card, a mortgage, or car loan.

You won’t see a huge jump in your score just because you get up to date on these accounts, except for the fact that you’ll have decreased your amounts owed.

While that’s certainly a good perk, simple late payments also stay on your credit report for seven years just as accounts in collections do.

However, if your late payment was a one-time occurrence, you can try sending the creditor a goodwill letter to ask them to remove the item from your report. Give a reason as to why you were under economic hardship and how you’ve otherwise been a good customer.

Even if sending a goodwill letter doesn’t work or doesn’t apply to your situation, you can begin to rebuild your credit score today by building a strong financial foundation. That means making all of your payments on time and in full as you move forward.

This method requires a little more patience but it’s extremely effective and is something that any lender or other creditor wants to see on your credit report when you apply for a loan or a credit card.

Combine this positive habit with keeping your debt low and you’ll set yourself up for a better credit score in no time at all.